Â?It was pretty bad out here,Â? says 15-year-old Cameron Andrews, a sophomore at Penn High School. Â?There were a lot of gang signs and cuss words.Â?

Â?It makes you feel bigger in life when you can help out others,Â? he added. Â?It makes you feel good.Â?

Residents who live near those locations wonÂ?t have to see those eyesores anymore, thanks to the group, which is taking part in the South Bend Police DepartmentÂ?s week-long Youth Police Academy.

The students painted a viaduct on Miami Street, near Jackson Middle School; a wall where Meade Street dead-ends into Sample Street on the southwest side; and a fence at Bestway Towing, 1530 S. Walnut St., which has been marked with graffiti numerous times over the years.

Â?We have gangs out here all the time,Â? said Todd Stull, who owns Bestway Towing. Â?ItÂ?s a very nice gesture what these kids are doing. ItÂ?s helped me out tremendously.Â?

Others were appreciative as well.

While the students, many covered in paint from head to toe, were at the location near Meade Street, they took the time to paint the garage of a nearby elderly man.

Â?His garage has been hit with graffiti a bunch of times recently, and he was really appreciative,Â? said South Bend Lt. Richard Powers, who helped organize the event.

David Minjarez, a senior at Riley High School, says he sees graffiti all over town, including in his neighborhood.

Â?I wanted to do something to help put a stop to it and make the neighborhood look nicer,Â? he said.

Â?You feel good about it,Â? added Washington High School junior Garrick Fleming.

Powers, meanwhile, said the event teaches teenagers about responsibility.

Â?It shows them that you can give back to your community,Â? he said. Â?If you donÂ?t give back to your community, youÂ?re losing the whole point.Â?